Apparatus for refining papermaking material



W. V. KNOLL APPARATUS FOR REFINING PAPERMAKING MATERIAL Filed April 15,1950 Dec. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ullll lfll INVENTOR WILLIAM V. K NOLLBY HIS ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 w. v. KNOLL APPARATUS FOR REFININGPAPERMAKING MATERIAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1950 L ML mm E KWV M m L l W HIS ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1953 2,661,667

W. V. KNOLL APPARATUS FOR REFINING PAPERMAKING MATERIAL Filed April 13,1950 FIG. 3

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILLIAM V. KNOLL HIS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 8,1953 APPARATUS FOR REFINING PAPERMAKING MATERIAL William V. Knoll,Dayton, Ohio Application April 13, 1950, Serial No. 155,634

2 Claims.

The present invention is directed to pulp-refining apparatus and relatesmore particularly to such an apparatus for continuously treating pulp inprogressive stages to gradually reduce the fibers thereof in finenessuntil said pulp is of the proper consistency for paper making.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an improvedapparatus for treating pulp for paper making,

Another object is to provide means to brush, hydrate and refine fibersfor making paper of high quality.

Still another object is to provide a single apparatus for progressivelyincreasing the fineness of paper-making pulp as it passes through theapparatus.

A further object is to provide an apparatus having several identicalstations for progressively treating paper-making pulp as it passes fromone station to the next, to reduce said pulp to the proper fineness,each of said stations being provided with adjusting means for securingthe desired treatment of the pulp.

Another object is the provision of an improved machine for treatingpaper-making pulp, said machine having several identical units throughwhich the pulp passes, said units being effective to progressivelyincrease the fineness of the pulp as it passes from one unit to thenext, each of said units comprising adjusting means for securing thedesired treatment of the pulp as it passes therethrough.

With these and other incidental objects in view, the invention includescertain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, apreferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described withreference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of thisapplication.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete apparatus.

, Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the horizontal centerline of the apparatus and showing the internal arrangement of thevarious parts.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the driven plug or conemembers.

, Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line '55, Figure 4 looking inthe direction indi- Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1,Figure 6.

2 Description As brought out in the opening paragraph of thisspecification, the present invention is directed to a machine fortreating fibrous materials, such as wood pulp, for example, and incertain cases, rags, in order to reduce the fibres of said materials tothe proper fineness for making paper of high or excellent quality.

The machine comprises several units or stations which are similar inconstruction and operation, each unit arranged to individually brush ortreat the fibres of the paper-making material, as said material is fedthrough the machine under suificient pressure to insure that it advancesprogressively from one stage of desired treatment of the fibres as theypass between said faces.

The machine chosen to illustrate the present invention has four of theabove mentioned units .for imparting four phases of treatment to thepaper-making material as it passes through the machine. However, it isneither the intention nor the desire to limit the machine to any par-.ticular number of units as the machine is arranged to be assembled insections, each sec- .tion containing two of the paper-treating units,

and it is but a matter of omitting or. adding sections to obtain therequired number of units,

for securing the desired treatment to the papermaking material.

In the ensuing pages, the mechanism pertinent to the present inventionwill be described in detail with reference to the figures of thedrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the machine as presently constructedcomprises two central sections 20, cylindrical incontour and cast ofsuitable .material. Each section 2 0. comprises an upper portion}! and alower portion 22, separated on the horizontal center line,where similaradjacent. flanges are providedfor bolting the upper and. lower portionstogether, as at 23. Suitable gaskets between the flanges of the upperand lower halves or portions provide a liquid seal therebetween. Thelower halves of the sections 20 have footings 24, which are bolted to asuitable base casting 25 in turn mounted on a foundation of suitablefirmness. Adjacent inner faces of the sections 20 are flanged as at 26,to provide means for bolting said sections together, and a suitablegasket is inserted between the inher faces to seal the sections againstleakage.

Right and left end caps 21 and 28, similar in outline and cast ofsuitable material, are provided for enclosing the central sections 20.Each end cap comprises an upper portion 29, and a lower portion 30separated on the horizontal center line, the same as the center sections20, and

similar adjacent flanges are provided on each portion for bolting themtogether. A suitable gasket is inserted at 3| between the upper andlower portions of each cap 21 and 28, to seal said portions againstleakage. The inwardly disposed faces of the end caps 21 and 28 and thesections 20 have matching flanges 32 (Fig. 1) which provide means forbolting said end caps and said sections together. at 32 between theflanged portions of the caps 2'! and 28, and the sections 20, to sealsaid parts against leakage where they are joined together. The end caps21 and 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) have axially alined openings therein toreceive a main shaft 34, which extends through said openings, andpacking material 33 is inserted in said openings and compressed bysuitable end plates to insure that the shaft is properly sealed againstleakage. Opposite ends of the shaft 34 are journaled in axially alinedbearings 35 (Fig. 1), said bearings in turn secured on correspondinguprights 36, in turn secured to the top surface of the base 25. Therighthand and f the main shaft 34 (Fig. 1) is connected by a suitablecou- Lpling means (not shown) to an operating motor (not shown) ofproper proportions and characteristics to properly operate thepulp-treating mechanism.

The shaft 34 (Fig. 2) is provided with a thrust collar 39 against whichabuts the reduced righthand end of a plug member 40 of frusto conicalshape (see also Figs. 4 and said plug being a tight fit on said shaftand further retained as an integral unit therewith by being keyedthereto. In the present adaptation there are four of the plug members40, which abut each other, as shown in Fig. 2, all of said members beingsecured on the shaft 34 in fixed relationship to each other, in the samemanner as explained in connection with the righthand member 40. Each ofthe plug members 40 is provided with an external angular face 4|, whichcoacts with a matching internal angular face on a corresponding drummember 42, comprising similar upper and lower halves 43 and 44 (Fig.6)secured together by suitable bolts. When the corresponding halves 43 and44 are secured together, as shown in Fig. 6, they form the drum-shapedmember 42, the outside diameter of which is properly finished bygrinding or otherwise to snugly and slidingly engage the similarlyfinished surface 45 (Fig. 2) which forms the internal diam- 'eter orbore of the center section members 20. Likewise each of thedrum members42 (Figs. 2 and 6) is providedwith a central bore 46 to provideclearance for the main shaft 34, and for the hub-shaped lefthand end ofthe corresponding plug member 40. p I

' Mechanism is provided for adjusting the drum members 42 in relation tothe corresponding plug Suitable gaskets are provided member, as viewedin Fig. 2, Will be sufficient for i all of said members. Each of thedrums 42 (Figs. 2 and. 6) has diametrically opposed camming slots 48 cutin the periphery thereof, which are engaged by corresponding cams 43formed on the inner ends of stub shafts 50, in turn journaled inbushings 5 l secured between the upper and lower halves of thecorresponding section 20. The outer ends of the shaft 50 are journaledin corresponding gear box castings 53, secured against the finishedfaces of pads on the outer surface of the section 20. Secured on each ofthe shafts 50 near their outer ends is a worm wheel 54, which mesheswith a companion helical gear 55 secured on the lower end of a shaft 56journaled in the corresponding gear box 53 at right angles to itscompanion shaft 59. Each of the shafts 56 (Fig. 3) is connected by aclutch 5'! to a corresponding shaft 53, journaled in corresponding gearbox castings 59, in turn secured to the finished faces of extensions 58of the section 20. Secured on the upper end of each of the shafts 58 isa corresponding bevel gear 6i which meshes with a companion bevel gear52 secured on a corresponding horizontal shaft 53, said shafts being inaxial alinement and connected by a clutch mechanism 64.

Secured on the outer end of the righthand shaft 63 (Fig. 3) is a handwheel 65 which is used for revolving said s'haftand connected mechanism,including the cams 69, causing said cams, in cooperation with thecorresponding cam slots 48, to adjust the corresponding drum member 42with respect to the corresponding plug member 40, to in turn adjust thedistances between the angular faces of said members to obtain thedesired treatment of the paper-making material,

The angular working face of each of the plugs 42 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) hasa plurality of brushing ridges 66 thereon, which coact with similarridges 67 formed on the internal angular face of each of thecorresponding drums 42 (Figs. 2 and 6) to obtain the brushing orscrubbing action required to reduce the paper-making material to theproper fineness for the desired results.

Directing attention to Figs. 1 and 2, the lefthand cap 29 has an inletopening 68 therein, conheating with a supply source of untreated pulpmaterial and the righthand cap 29 has an outlet opening 69 connectingwith a source of demand for treated pulp material. The pulp material isintroduced into the machine through the inlet opening 63 undersuflicient pressure to cause it to move from the left toward the rightthrough each succeeding stage of the machine comprising one of the drummembers 42-, and corresponding plug member 40. In the. presentadaptation there are four of such stages. However, this is a matter ofchoice, as the number of stages is usually determined by the quality ofthe papermaking material required, the finer quality of paper-makingmaterial requiring more stages, and the coarser quality ofpaper-makingmaterial requiring less stages.

I The usual practice is to reduce the paper-makthe extreme lefthandstage, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, the drum member 42 should be adjustedrather loosely in relation to the corresponding plug member it so as toobtain a minor degree of treatment of the paper-making material in thefirst stage. In the next stage the angular faces of the correspondingdrum and plug members 42 and as should be adjusted in closerrelationship to each other so to impart a further degree of treatment tothe paper-making material, and so on throughout the succeeding stagesuntil in the final stage the opposed faces of the corresponding drummember =32 and plug member 49 may be adjusted in extremely closeproximity to each other to insure that the paper-making pulp or materialis reduced to the required fineness.

After the paper-making material has passed through the last or extremerighthand stage of treatment it flows through the outlet 69 to a sourceof demand, such as a paper-making machine or a storage tank or vat.

It may therefore be concluded from a perusal of the foregoingspecifications that the present invention is directed to an improvedmachine for the treating of pulp material for use in the making of finequaiity paper. Furthermore, the fact that the machine is built up ofunits or sections makes it possible to increase or decrease thepaper-treating characteristics of the machine by assembling the requirednumber of sections or units 2t into the machine to obtain the requirednumber of paper-treating stages. Moreover the adjustable feature of thedrum members 22, in relation to their corresponding plug members 49 ofeach stage, makes it possible to obtain the necessary degrees offineness of the fibres of the pulp material as it moves through themachine from one stage to the next. Likewise the unit or sectionalconstruction of the machine makes it possible to perform a quick andefficient repair operation in case of breakdown or damage, as thedefective unit or section may be readily removed from the machine andreplaced with a spare unit in good repair, without the necessity of anextensive or prolonged shutdown period such as is usually required inthe repairing of conventional machinery of this type.

While the form of mechanism herein disclosed is admirably adapted tofulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it isnot intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodimentherein disclosed for it is susceptible of embodiment in various otherforms without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, for treating the fibers ofpaper-making material to reduce said fibers to the required fineness forpaper-making, the combination of a base; cylindrical center sectionsconnected together and mounted on the base; end portions formed ofsymmetrical halves connected together and connected to the opposite endfaces of the center sections to form a cylindrical body portion, saidend portions having inlet and outlet openings therein to permit the flowof paper-making material through said cylindrical body portion; arotatable drive shaft passing through the center of the cylindrical bodyportion and journaled in uprights secured to the base; a plurality ofsolid plug members fixedly mounted on the shaft in abutting relationshipto each other and arranged to rotate in unison with said shaft, saidplug members having angular pulp-treating faces with a plurality ofbrushing ridges thereon; an annular drum element for each plug member,said drum elements encircling the shaft and being a slidable fit withinthe cylindrical body portion, said drum elements being formed ofsymmetrical halves bolted together so as to be readily removable fromaround said shaft for convenient replacement and repair; a pair ofdiametrically opposed cam slots in the peripheries of each of the drumelements; a pair of diametrically opposed cam members supported in thecylindrical body portion and engaging the cam slots of the correspondingdrum elements; and means to rotate each pair of cams in unison to slidethe drum elements back and forth in the cylindrical body portion toadjust the angular faces and brushing ridges of each drum element inrelation to the angular faces and brushing ridges on the correspondingplug members, said cams and said slots also acting to hold the drumelements against rotation within the cylindrical body portion.

2. In a machine of the class described, for reducing the fibers ofpaper-making material to the required fineness for paper making, thecombination of a cylindrical body portion closed at the i ends, with theexception of inlet and outlet openings, to permit the flow ofpaper-making material therethrough; a rotatable drive shaft extendingthrough the center of the cylindrical body portion; a plurality of solidplug members secured l} on the shaft in abutting relationship to eachother; a ring-shaped drum element for each plug member, said drumelements constructed and arranged to coast with said plug members toreduce the fibers of the paper-making material as said material passesthrough the cylindrical body portion, said drum elements encircling theshaft and being a sliding fit within the cylindrical body portion, saiddrum elements each comprising substantially symmetrical halves boltedtogether for quick and convenient removal from around the shaft tofacilitate replacement or repair and each having a pair of diametricallyopposed cam slots formed therein; a pair of eccentric cams for each pairof slots, said cams mounted in the body portion and engaged with thecorresponding slots; and means to rotate each pair of cams in unison toslide the corresponding drum element back and forth in the cylindricalbody portion in relation to the corresponding plug member to control thefineness of the fibers of the paper-making material, said cams and slotsalso coacting to prevent rotation of the drum elements within thecylindrical body portion.

WILLIAM V. KNOLL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 870,997 Sauer Nov. 12, 1907 1,913,540 Fritz June 13, 19332,044,480 Lord June 16, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,306Great Britain Feb. 22, 1909

